First National Makes Room For Minorities In Management

January 20, 1986|By William Gruber.

First National Bank of Chicago has launched a major effort to identify management-level jobs that could be filled by minorities and women over the next 18 months.

``The federal government may be backing away from affirmative action programs, but we are determined to step up our effort at the bank,`` said A.D. Frazier, executive vice president and head of human resources.

Frazier added that Barry F. Sullivan, chairman of First National, has told him and other department heads that approximately 25 percent of their incentive bonus compensation in 1986 would depend on their success in the program.

Sullivan, in the bank`s employee newspaper, noted that the Reagan administration has proposed amending an executive order issued by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 that established affirmative action goals and timetables for companies doing business with the federal government.

``Our people are our most important asset,`` Sullivan said. ``When seeking talented employees to fill open positions, it`s to our advantage not to limit ourselves in the selection process.``

Frazier, in an interview, said the heads of the bank`s nine departments have been ordered to identify at least 100 ``high visibility`` positions this year at the assistant vice president level or above that could be filled by women or minorities.

He said the bank last month started a program of one-day workshops on dealing with minority employees, and every management official of the bank must attend one over the next 12 to 18 months. That includes Sullivan and Richard L. Thomas, the bank`s president, who are scheduled to attend a session in March.

Each manager`s incentive bonus payment this year will be partly based on a ``key performance indicator`` representing the official`s success in complying with the affirmative action effort, he said.